Essay Sample on Haiti: Burdened by Disadvantage Despite Historical Milestone

Introduction

Haiti is a Caribbean country that is constantly battered by floods, storms, and earthquakes. It won independence in 1804, and the population descended from African slaves. Haiti was the second country in America to attain independence after the US (Albert, Roberts, & Harder, 2017). However, social, political, and economic challenges have caused severe problems. Other countries that achieved freedom after Haiti are economically stable, have sound education systems, and political stability. Haiti's government has implemented strategies to uplift the country from poverty, but the geographic challenges thwart their efforts. This paper looks at Haiti's geographic problems, socio-culture, Hofstede's cultural dimensions.

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Haiti consists of western one-third of the island of Hispaniola, east of the island of Cuba and west of the Dominican Republic. Its total area is 27700 square kilometers and 27500 island. One hundred ninety square kilometers is made up of water. Haiti has a tropical climate, which varies depending on altitude. Moreover, the rainfall pattern is not consistent, which affects agriculture (Albert, Roberts & Harder, 2017). Farmers do not know when it will rain, and this hinders many from engaging in agricultural activities. The climate significantly impacts the economy. Rainfall pattern varies, with heavy rain experienced in the lowlands and on the slopes of the mountains. The country has two rain seasons, April-June and October-November. It experiences periodic floods and droughts, compounded by extreme deforestation. Earthquakes and hurricanes are regular in Haiti.

Haiti's climate is mostly tropical, with small areas having a semi-arid, oceanic, and subtropical climate. The terrain varies, with a large part of the territory being more than 700 feet. Haiti is distinct from Cuba, and there is a wide strait that passes between them. The most important valley is Plaine de delArtibonite, which supports Haiti's rivers. Massif du Nord is found in the northern region. It is an extension of the central part of the Dominican Republic. It starts at Haiti's eastern border up to the northwestern part through the peninsula. The southern part comprises of the Plaine du CuldeSac, a natural depression that supports saline lakes. Lac Azumi and Trou Caiman are some of the lakes found in the southern region (Elwood, Goodchild, & Sui, 2012). Central Plateau is found in the central region. It extends to the Guayamouc River and runs to the northwest.

The country's economy is a free market with low costs of labor. The US is its principal trading partner. The country's agricultural sector has suffered because of the unpredicted climate. However, it still manages to produce essential oils and high-end perfumes used worldwide. Moreover, it also exports mangoes, cocoa, and bananas. Limited access to education, poverty, and natural disasters have had a toll on the economy. The vast majority of the population depends on the agriculture sector, primarily subsistence farming. They are vulnerable to natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods. Deforestation has exacerbated the situation, making Haiti prone to catastrophe.

Moreover, the country is experiencing a trade deficit, which it is trying to solve by venturing into the manufacturing sector. It is also focusing on value-added products in the agricultural industry to improve the economy. Expanding the agriculture sector is impossible because Haiti is covered by mountains, which hinder land accessibility for cultivation.

Haiti's Social Culture

Social media Sites

The number of social media users it Haiti has increased over the years. Facebook is the leading platform used by the population. In July 2019, Facebook accounted for 97 percent of social media site visit Haiti, followed by Twitter. Haiti users prefer the social media site because it enables them to connect with people around the world (Silver, & Matthews, 2017).

Moreover, it is easy to ask for help on social media because of many users. Facebook has been on the forefront, informing the world natural disasters are happening in Haiti and asking for help. There were more than two million Facebook users in Haiti in 2019. Most earthquakes that occur in Haiti severe communication lines. They topple cell phone towers and destroy radio and television stations. People are forced to change the way they communicate and gather information about natural disasters in the country. Haitians had to learn how to use social media in 2010 when a strong earthquake happened. It became the only source of support for Diaspora seeking news about loved ones in the country. People shared stories on different social media platforms, and years after the earthquake, it stuck with them. Today Haitians use various social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp, and Pinterest, to get and pass information. While social media has made communication easier for Haitians, they are also known for spreading lies that affect the country. Hence, people are encouraged to visit credible sites for information.

In 2019, Pinterest was the second most used social media platform in Haiti. Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube followed it. Haitians are not only interested in earthquake news going by different social media platforms they use. They use Pinterest to learn more about decor, fashion, and style. Youtube is slowly picking up in the country as a source of entertainment. While many communication lines have been restored after earthquakes, social media played a major role in getting the country back on its feet. Facebook and Twitter informed users about natural disasters in the country and advised them to check up on loved ones (Silver, & Matthews, 2017). Posts were shared to help people find their loved ones. This is why Haitians social media usage has increased over the years. Two activities emerged on Twitter following an earthquake in Haiti. Haiti was the second biggest topic and donations. Users were given direct access to help Haitians by donating food and money. During the 2010 earthquake, 2 million Tweets included the word "Haiti," and there was a number that people could use to donate. Social media was a place to turn to interact with others about the earthquake. Although most only users depend on traditional media for information, more people are turning to social media for interaction. Statista 2020 shows that the number of social media users is increasing steadily in Haiti. Social platforms have offered tremendous support to the country during natural disasters, and they consider it a source of hope and comfort. Social media usage Haiti is bound to increase in the future.

HIV Prevalence

HIV is a disease that affects millions of people worldwide. Despite awareness about HIV, many people still die from the disease. 160000 Haitians were living with HIV in 2018. The rate of new infection stood at 0.69, while the percentage of those living with HIV (15-49) was two. The stigma associated with the diseases forces many people not to disclose their status. The rate of infection was high in 2018, with 73000 testings positive that year (Rivera, Jean-Juste, Gluck, Reeder, Sainristil, Julma, & Secours, 2017).

Moreover, 2700 Haitians died from AIDS illnesses. There has been a decrease in the number of deaths since 2010 related to the disease. The figure reduced from 2700 to 4900 deaths. Furthermore, the number of new infections dropped from 8800 t0 7300. The Haitian government has been created awareness about HIV and urging people to know their status. The move has led to more people visiting healthcare centers to get tested and start treatment. However, more still needs to be done to rid HIV from the country. Haiti records the highest rate of HIV infections in the Caribbean region. Most people living with HIV live in the island of Hispaniola, which is home to Haitians and the Dominican Republic. Eradicating the disease has been a challenge because of the economic state of the country. Apart from being badly hit by the disease, it is the most impoverished nation in the Caribbean region. Its rate of infection is double the figure of the Dominican Republic (Tamplin, 2019). While the price of infection has reduced by 40% since 2000, statistics show that treatment has nothing to do with the decline. Instead, the number of Haitians living with HIV has dropped because of HIV related deaths and restriction of blood transfusions. When the HIV epidemic struck, HIV cases in Haiti was double the rate found in other developed countries. Existing problems, such as poor nutrition, compounded the problem, and caused other diseases.

The future looks bright for Haiti when it comes to eradicating HIV. It is projected that by 2020, 90 percent of people living with the disease will know their status. Moreover, people will have access to treatment and live longer. Vital loads will be suppressed significantly, which will allow people to continue with life as usual. In 2018, 67% of Haitians living with the disease knew their status, and 58 percent were on treatment (Rivera, Jean-Juste, Gluck, Reeder, Sainristil, Julma, & Secours, 2017). More adults were on treatment compared to children aged 0-14. The number of children orphaned by HIV has dropped because more people know their status. In 2000, there was a widespread loss of parents from natural disasters and HIV. The problem grew worse due to a lack of services and care for orphans. HIV testing for expectant mothers has improved over the years, and in 2018, 83 percent were on antiretroviral medicine to prevent mother to child transmission. Programs that focus on the wellbeing of women have been introduced to curb HIV infections. Women are aware of how HIV is contracted and ways they can protect themselves. Early testing reduced the number of infant infections to 46 percent in 2018. Fifty-eight percent of people living with HIV in Haiti were women.

Moreover, young women reported high cases of new infections than young men. However, more women had access to HIV treatment than men, with 63% and 52%, respectively. People living with HIV and tuberculosis increased from 53.9% in 2015 to 66.6% in 2017.

Education

Haiti's education system is among the worst in the world. It is number three from the bottom of the list, followed by Eritrea and Somalia. Despite parents' desire to give their children the best education, the government is not doing enough to support them. Schools are not enough; more so in the countryside (Rose, 2017). Available ones offer limited grades, and children cannot complete their studies. High schools are few, and they are in the cities which force children to live far from parents.

Moreover, the cost of too high for most parents who struggle to feed children. Studying in the cities adds extra expense, which makes education unattainable for many. Moreover, both public and private schools require fees, with the public being more costly. The quality of education is poor; students lack learning materials and teachers are undependable. Students have no one to consult when seeking career or personal advice. Few teachers lack adequate training for the job. Furthermore, learning is continuously interrupted by natural disasters and political unrest.

Haitian parents continue to sacrifice a lot to take their children to school despite failure by the education system. Parents send children to school starting in pre-school. When they are ready to join high school, some remain at home due to a lack of fees (Rose, 2017). There is a high demand for education, but little supply. Learning space is not enough to accommodate every student. The tuition fee is $80 per child, and the cos...